The Roll Your Own Zone

The Dance-Technology Zone is currently in an archived state. There are plans to create a new site that will be located at dancetechnology.org to combine material from the DTZ with the archives
of the dance-tech list as well as new material. For more information,
or to offer suggestions, contact me at scott@dancetechnology.com.

- Scott Sutherland

Many of the artists who are bringing new technology to
their work use commercially available software and hardware devices, albeit
in ways sometimes not originally intended. Others choose (bravely) to fashion
the tools that they need ­ either by themselves or together with technically
minded comrades. This area is designed as a resource for both groups, to
help them locate, create or learn more about the tools that are available
for interactive artistic expression.

Introduction

Creating an interactive live performance requires three basic activities:
1) Find out what is happening in the real world, 2) determine how to interpret
those events, and then 3) respond by generating sonic, aural, tactile or
olfactory events that can be perceived by the audience.

The Roll Your Own Zone is organized to reflect these three core
needs of the interactive artist. The sections are as follows:

Sensory Devices. Sources of
information to help you create devices that can find out what is happening
in the real world. Often this effort is centered on determining the actions
of the performers.